When struggling to get pregnant, you start to realize that sperm get by with a little help from their friends. I've tried lots of tips I've read online to help sperm make their way toward the uterus—from trying to "trap" them using SoftCups to lying in an inverted "candle" position after sex with my legs up against the wall.

None of these methods have worked for me (yet), but I'm heartened to learn about a new product designed to take my efforts up a notch. Introduced in July, the Stork OTC is the first-ever home-use conception-assistance device to receive FDA over-the-counter clearance. The device inseminates women via an innovative "Conceptacle" (a hybrid cervical cup-meets-condom), inserted with a tampon-like applicator and worn up to six hours. Though the practice of cervical cap insemination has been around since the 1950s, cervical caps are typically available only by prescription and have traditionally not been as easy to insert.

"It's kind of an older concept that's been reengineered to be safer and more user-friendly," explains gynecologist Michael Pelekanos, M.D. "During natural intercourse, some of the sperm come out on the sheet, some hang out inside the vagina, and others make it to the cervical mucus but don't progress past there. The Stork helps the sperm bypass those early barriers and puts them where they need to go."

Pelekanos participated in early feasibility and safety studies for the product, and is currently involved with a trial evaluating the Stork's effectiveness. "First, we ask women to have standard intercourse, and the next morning, we assess the amount of sperm that are motile in their cervical mucus," says Pelekanos of the new study. "Then, we repeat the same process using the Stork; preliminary results have been encouraging that the number of sperm is increased."

At $79.99, the Stork can be a more cost-effective option for those who aren't quite ready to progress to fertility treatments like IUI and/or IVF. (However, it could add up, as each device is single-use only, and a new one would need to be purchased every month.) Pelekanos adds that the device can also be useful for couples experiencing male-factor infertility (such as low sperm count or impaired motility), as well as those who want to keep their efforts more private.

"I can't tell you how many couples I've had come in where the husband couldn't produce a specimen because he didn't want to masturbate in a gynecologist's office," says Pelekanos. "The Stork can be done in the privacy of your own home, as opposed to being so clinical."

Since the Stork OTC is best used during a woman's three most fertile cycle days, it's probably wisest to maximize your chances by using it in tandem with ovulation-predictor tools or an app like Glow.

Have you tried the Stork yet? Let us know about your experience in the comments! After all, we can all get by with a little help from our friends.

Jen Jones Donatelli

Jen Jones Donatelli is an author and journalist whose work and photography have appeared in Conde Nast Traveler, LA Confidential, Natural Health, Variety, San Francisco, Whole Life Times, Clean Plates, Total Beauty, and many more. When not typing the day away at her laptop, she is also a journalism instructor for Ohio University, MediaBistro, and StoryStudio Chicago. Specializing in all things lifestyle and wellness, Jen is passionate about the topic of fertility—and thrilled to explore it more fully for REDBOOK. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband, Joe, and beloved spaniel pup, Tanner.